Colombo, Jan. 28 (ANI): The External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee has called on the Lankan Pesident Mahindra Rajapakse to take steps to ensure the safety of Sri Lankan Tamils during the ongoing conflict against the LTTE.

"We have requested that the basic effort should be to help the civilians and ensure their safety and security," Mukherjee said after his meeting with Rajapakse.

Mukherjee informed the reporters that Rajapakse has extended an invitation to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi and AIADMK supremo J. Jayalalaithaa to be a part of the Tamil delegation to visit war torn northern Sri-Lanka.

Rajapakse told Mukherjee that Indian Tamil leaders should see for themselves the situation prevailing in the conflict zone.

Mukherjee told Rajapakse that he would convey this message to both Karunanidhi and Jayalalithaa.

Mukherjee said that India would be happy to help Sri Lanka in reconstruction of its Northern parts in a bid to establish peaceful economic and political relations between the nations.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has also expressed deep concern over the safety and well being of civilians caught in intensified fighting.

On Tuesday, Mukherjee said that India doesn't have any sympathy for the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and added that Tamil civilians should not be made victims of the conflict in the island nation.

"We are for fight against terrorists and all sorts of terrorism. Therefore, we have no sympathy for any terrorist activity indulged in by any organisation, particularly LTTE, which is a banned organisation in India," Pranab Mukherjee told reporters on Tuesday, hours before his two-day visit to Sri Lanka.

With Sri Lankan Government claiming to have captured Mullaithivu, Mukherjee said India is concerned over the plight of civilians and how they can be protected. (ANI)